The Queensland Government has announced the appointment of a senior psychiatrist to lead an independent review of the use of hormone therapies to treat children with gender dysphoria.
Professor Ruth Vine will examine the evidence for using puberty suppression (Stage 1) and gender-affirming (Stage 2) hormone therapy for these children.
Professor Vine has served as Australia’s first Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health and Victoria’s Chief Psychiatrist.
The Government announced in January that the review would be undertaken following the tightening of regulations around prescribing hormone therapy to children and adolescents in several European countries and the United Kingdom.
Professor Vine will submit her final report to Queensland Health Director-General David Rosengren by November 30, 2025.
The current pause on children and adolescents being prescribed Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone therapies in all Queensland Health facilities will remain until the report has been completed and its findings considered.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the independent review would ensure only the safest and most appropriate care was provided for young people experiencing gender dysphoria.
“There is contested evidence surrounding the benefits of Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone therapies for children with gender dysphoria,” Minister Nicholls said.
“This evidence, along with concerns raised about paediatric gender treatments provided by the Cairns Sexual Health Service, led to the decision to undertake an independent review, supported by a panel of clinical, legal and ethical experts, to examine the evidence for using Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone therapies in paediatric gender services.
“This includes looking at the quality and outcomes of available medical and clinical evidence, as well as ethical considerations to inform government policy.”
The Terms of Reference for the review can be found here.
